Customs of Shandong Province

The land of Qilu is well known for its good drinking habits.

First, let's talk about seating, Shandong is a place of etiquette since ancient times, and you can't afford to be sloppy about the distinction between guests and hosts, and between the young and the old, at the drinking table. At the wine table, generally rushing the door position is the master or the proprietor (pay the bill to invite the person), sometimes jokingly referred to as the table Zhuangzhu. Opposite him is the position with the host to entertain guests, called the main accompaniment. These two positions are also called a little different in Shandong, but the meaning is almost the same. In the upscale restaurant rooms, these two positions on the table cup napkin stacking method is different, the master of the napkin is generally folded into a cylinder, inserted inside the cup. And the main accompanied by the napkin is folded into a fan-shaped, the other position of the napkin is the general three folded petal-shaped. Overall, the whole layout of the napkin is like a phoenix spreading its wings. Sitting on the left side of the host is the main guest, the right side is the second guest. Correspondingly, the left side next to the guest of honor is the deputy master of honor, the right side next to the second guest of honor is called the second accompaniment, also called the third accompaniment. The rest of the position of the guests can sit at random, generally are also interspersed with each other or according to the age of the gender and sit, the table jokingly called these people are not three, the reason is that there is no three guests at the table, four accompanied by the name.

After the guests were seated, the wine was poured. Since ancient times, Shandong people like to drink from big bowls, which seems to have the legacy of the Liangshan warriors. Nowadays, although they do not use big bowls, small cups are generally not used. The popular standard cup is the three-two-three tall glass. Shandong people are not too fond of drinking highly alcoholic beverages, most of the white wine degree is about 38 degrees. Of course, you can also drink beer, but in accordance with the liquor, beer 1:3 or 1:6 ratio of conversion, that is to say, people drink a glass of white wine, you must drink three or six cups of beer. Shandong coastal many local government regulations at noon are not allowed to drink, but some occasions such as high-level inspections, departmental inspections, media observation, guest visits, etc., the competent leadership and had to cope with the company, it should be born out of a say big, say small, not small, in the wine glass, counted in Shandong, the phenomenon of the Special Administrative Region.

In many places in Shandong, after the first full cup per person, called the door cup, meaning that you sweep the snow in front of the door. This first glass of wine of course, by the host to lead us to drink, generally first have an introductory speech, the host polite, and then set a standard, that is, the cup of wine to be divided into several times to finish. Generally six times, called six up. The meaning of up contains the meaning of developed, figure a lucky. In this way, everyone, led by the host, drink, eat and talk. This cup of wine is mandatory for everyone present, and not drinking it is disrespectful to the host or proprietor. This glass of wine is generally not clink, Shandong people called clink drink does not count, but in raising the glass can be on the table a little bit, called over the electricity. It is said to have risen in Guangdong, and then popularized in the mainland. This kind of wine glass knocking table ping-pong sound, the table jokingly called the beggars meeting.

When the host led everyone to drink the first cup, it is the turn of the main companion to speak. The same is polite, also led a glass of wine. In general, two cups of wine in more than half a catty, the master and the guest red in the face, feet rising clouds. At this point, the host announced that everyone can move freely, that is, you can drink alone with anyone, and drink more or less unrestricted. Generally at this time, the guests to the host's hospitality to express their gratitude, the first round is generally the main guest and the host, the second guest and the main companion, and so on, there are also the main guest to lead the accompanying guests back to the host, and then back to the main companion and the other main party personnel. During this time, the atmosphere at the table is the most active time, and it feels like the relationship between the guest and the host has been brought much closer all of a sudden. But this time is also often a headache, because there has been half a kilogram of white wine down, during the persuasion of the pattern and more, especially easy to get drunk.

Shandong people invited guests, the table basically have to have fish. Fish in Shandong table counts big dishes, called big pieces. Mountain and sea food, land cattle and sheep, and fish can only be called small dishes. This is not Shandong people rare fish, mainly for a lucky figure, take the meaning of the year. Generally on the fish, the fish head rushed guests, said the guests respect. Guests should drink fish head wine, tail direction people should drink fish tail wine, drink the name of the hall called head three tail four, and then everyone together before starting to eat fish. The rest of the fish bones are generally not withdrawn, and so the host called the end away and then use the remaining fish bones to make a soup, which means that the banquet is almost carried out, the end. The soup made from fish bones is called mixed fish soup, which is made by adding fish bones and minced fish meat to the soup, adding pepper and vinegar and then stewing, which has a very fresh flavor. There is also a fish two eat soup or select other soup, and so on the soup up, everyone drink their cups of wine, eat, eat fruit, the end of the feast.

Shandong people drinking time is generally longer, in addition to some ceremonial feast control in an hour or so, the general banquet time to more than 3 hours, and some of the close friends of the party is longer. Shandong people are good at drinking, drinking is also bold. But drink more on the body is not good after all, a few familiar friends in Shandong, many of them changed from drinking to drink less or not drink, but also take our advice, reception we have less red tape, is broken the rules of the table. But they are sloppy with others, the reason is that the wine can not drink, etiquette is not broken.

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